Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Our Web Site
1. Do I have to register to use the Alumni Web site? And does it cost anything?
There is a wide variety of information on the site that does not require registration. However, to access certain special services, yes, registration is required. These special services include updating your personal information online, including sharing news and a photo with fellow alumni; searching the Online Directory; and sending Web postcards.
Regarding cost, no - there is no fee for the services on the Alumni Web site. (There is an online event registration service where you can make payment for alumni events - but any payment is for the event. There is no surcharge.)
2. What's my "Alumni ID"?
When you first register, you'll need to provide this ID just to verify your identity. It is a string of nine all-capital letters that can be found on the label of your alumni magazine as well as most mailings that come from Alumni Relations. Enter only the letters, and in all capitals. From that point on, any time you use one of the password-protected features of the site, you will only be asked for the User ID and Password that you pick at registration.
3. How can I register if I can't find a piece of alumni mail?
You can just leave the Alumni ID box blank, and continue through the process. Then you'll need to wait for e-mail confirmation of your registration, which can take up to three days.
4. If I register, will I start getting junk e-mail?
You must provide a valid e-mail address to register for the Web site. However, you'll be given a choice of whether or not you wish to receive University e-mail. Examples of University e-mail include the monthly Alumni News E-newsletter and special event notices for your geographic or special interest area.
Regardless of whether you elect to receive University e-mail, it's important to keep your e-mail address and your other personal information current so that former classmates looking you up in the Online Directory can "blind" e-mail you (send you a message without seeing the address).
Very importantly, you should know that we do not provide alumni e-mail addresses to any outside organization (except, of course, our Web site company)! For more information, see our Privacy Statement. If you should ever suspect that an e-mail message is not really from the Alumni staff, please don't hesitate to contact us.
5. What if I don't want to be listed on the Internet at all?
That's certainly an option. In the site registration process, you can choose whether you want your record to show up at all. Or, you can pick and choose which pieces of information about you show up to fellow alumni using the Online Directory.
And please note - the only people who can see this information are other Illinois State alumni who have registered. The directory is not public.
6. Why are some pages at "IllinoisState.edu" and some are at "IllinoisStateAlumni.org"?
Our Web site is a "hybrid" site. Part of it resides on servers at Illinois State and part of it resides on vendor servers (at the .org address). Our carefully-selected vendor, Internet Association Corporation, helps us by providing some Web services that would tax limited University resources. Alumni staff monitor the entire site on a regular basis.
Of course, some pages are simply links to other campus departments. For example, if you click on Transcripts & Diploma Information, you'll go the University Registrar's Web site. If you click on Career Center, you'll go to the University Career Center, which also provides services to alumni.
General Questions About Services for Alumni
1. What are the dues to join the Alumni Association?
Nothing! All graduates of Illinois State University are automatic members of the Alumni Association. Former students who did not graduate may become members by asking to be included and providing their current information for alumni records.
2. How can I order a copy of my transcript?
Transcripts are provided through the Office of the University Registrar. Complete details for ordering transcripts are available at the Registrar's Web site Transcripts page.
3. How can I get the address or phone number of a friend I've lost touch with?
We have two options for you.
First, the Alumni Web site allows you, once registered, to browse for the individual in our Online Directory. If s/he has registered, some information may appear in the directory. If the person is not registered but we have an e-mail address on file, you will be able to send a "blind" e-mail -- that is, you won't get the address, but can still send the person a message.
Secondly, we provide a Find a Friend - Alumni Locator Service in which we will, if possible, contact the alum on your behalf and invite him/her to contact you.
To protect the privacy of all our alumni, Alumni Relations does not directly provide alumni information.
4. How can I update my address?
There are several ways to do this, and it's important that you do so any time your address or business information changes.
Web users can go to the page Update My Information and then follow the directions. Using your user ID and password, you can update at any time.
If it's easier, you can simply e-mail the Alumni staff.
Of course, we welcome your phone calls, too. Alumni office phone numbers and other contact information is available on the Web at Contact Us.
5. Why is it so important to keep my information updated?
Keeping your postal and e-mail addresses current means you will receive an uninterrupted flow of information from the University - including the Illinois State alumni magazine, the Illinois State E-lumni News E-newsletter, and special invitations and newsletters from Alumni Relations as well as campus departments. We hope you'll find these valuable.
Your e-mail address is particularly important to keep current. In these difficult financial times, the University can save a lot of money by being able to e-mail you - and e-mails that don't really interest you can be glanced at and deleted quickly, of course. However, if you prefer not to receive e-mails from the University, the Web site update process allows you to opt in or opt out of e-mail at any time.
6. I'd like my college friends to know about my new job/marriage/award, etc. How can I get my information in the Illinois State magazine?
The update form on our Web site includes a section for news -- job changes, awards, honors, or family changes you would like reported. If your organization sends press releases about promotions and honors, please include the Alumni office at Illinois State on your list of contacts. We can't guarantee publication of your information, but we will do our best to use submissions as space and deadlines allow.
7. As an alum, can I get free Internet access through the University or the Alumni Association?
Unfortunately, no. We would love to provide free Internet access, but that's not a service University resources could handle. To try to provide Internet access to 165,000 alumni and their families would overwhelm the resources needed for our 25,000 students, faculty, and staff who need it for the University's direct mission - educating students.
8. I'm about to graduate. Do I get to keep my ilstu account as an alum?
Your "ilstu" e-mail account will stay active for approximately six months after you graduate, as a courtesy from the University to give you time to get a new e-mail provider. You will receive automatic notices at the beginning of the four-month period, at two weeks remaining, seven days remaining, and then every day until the account is removed. After that, it is de-activated.
9. I now live far away from campus. Can I get a list of alumni who live in my area?
Alumni Relations does not provide lists of alumni except for official University business. We do, however, provide a wide variety of options for alumni to get together through chapters and regional events. If you're interested, check out our Chapters & Clubs information.
10. I know another Illinois State alum whose career success is really impressive. How can I nominate him/her for alumni recognition?
At whatever stage an alum may be in his/her career, we love to hear about career paths and successes. For those whose accomplishments are truly outstanding, the Alumni Association honors alumni with four categories of awards: Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Alumni Achievement Award, the E. Burton Mercier Alumni Service Award, and the Distinguished Alumni Award. Complete descriptions of these awards, their criteria, and how to nominate someone are available at the Alumni Awards page.
